Republican state Rep. Will Tallman and Democrat challenger Anthony McNevin discuss issues facing the district as they prepare for the Nov. 6 election.

The two candidates vying to represent the 193rd Legislative District in the state House of Representatives agree that one of the biggest issues facing their district is the significant reliance on property taxes to fund education.

But while incumbent Rep. Will Tallman, R-Reading Township, said he has plans for new property tax legislation and has advocated for restoring some state funding to schools, Democratic challenger Anthony "Tony" McNevin, a consulting business owner from Gardners, said the budgeting decisions made by Tallman and his colleagues have decimated the state's education system.

As the Nov. 6 election draws near, the candidates recently answered questions on property taxes, education and their goals for addressing important issues facing the 193rd district.

What are your thoughts on property taxes? What would you do to improve the system of funding education?

McNevin: Property taxes have to be looked at within a larger context, McNevin said. They are almost the exclusive source of financial support for schools.

There have been a number of proposals to shift some of the burden off of property owners through a sales tax, and McNevin supports that kind of strategy.

"The property tax can no longer be the bedrock for financing education in the state. It's just not feasible," he said. "When we see problems in schools - reductions of programs and 19,000 teachers who have been terminated in the past two years - we can't tolerate that kind of stuff. We need new revenue streams.

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He added that there's been "no courage" on the part of Tallman and his Republican colleagues to address the issue.

"They have been in power for years," McNevin said. "Nothing has been done."

Tallman: "We need to have fair, equitable and adequate funding for our schools, for schools in Adams County and York County. But it's not fair, it's definitely not equitable, and therefore, it makes it inadequate," Tallman said. "The school funding formula needs to reflect the actual needs of school districts."

As property taxes are tied together with school funding, an inequitable funding formula creates more of a need for local school districts to increase taxes, Tallman said.

Tallman believes that the student population of a district, also called its average daily membership, needs to play a greater role in the school funding formula. It's an issue that he says he and Rep. Ron Miller, R-Jacobus, have been working on for two to three years.

One of the problems in bringing about legislative changes on the property tax issue, Tallman said, is that it's not an issue for several counties in the state.

"There are more counties that don't care, or would be hurt by a change in property taxes," he said. "That's part of the mountain we need to climb in Harrisburg."

One of the complaints that some have about government is that politics gets in the way of action, that government is often too divided by partisanship to be effective. How would you counter that divide as a representative?

McNevin: "I think that criticism is very accurate," McNevin said. "All you have to do is look at the federal scene to see the inaction taking place regarding critical decisions."

He said Pennsylvania citizens do not need to perpetuate people in office who have a "Tea Party mentality" of no new taxes.

"That kind of attitude is absolutely crippling," McNevin said. "It doesn't provide for much trust across the aisle. I think you have to begin electing officials that are cooperative, that are willing to compromise, because that's the only path forward."

Tallman: Tallman said the country has had a multi-party political system since its beginning.

"But what I find frustrating is when ideas or pieces of legislation are judged on the party or the person who has brought them forth, instead of what the merit is of that particular bill," he said.

Each bill should be judged on its own merits, rather than on its supporters, Tallman said."That would go a long way," he added.

What are your goals if elected or re-elected?

McNevin: "The first goal would be to attempt to provide some sort of compromise effort going forward on property tax relief," McNevin said, since property taxes are so related to education funding. He would also fight for increases in revenue to counter the loss of support for the education system in Pennsylvania.

Tallman: Tallman plans to write property tax legislation that he hopes will be supported by the northern tier counties of the state, areas that also need high property taxes to fund education.

"We need to make sure our public schools have adequate funding," Tallman said.

Why should people vote for you on Nov. 6?

McNevin: "Because I'm energetic. I have a positive attitude and I'm willing to compromise. I've had a wealth of employment experience both nationally and internationally," McNevin said. "I'm keenly tuned in to education issues because of my work. I think I would do a better job than Mr. Tallman in trying to solve the problems."

Tallman: "My record as a representative for four years has been reflective of the desires of the district," Tallman said. "Whatever the program is being proposed, I'm always concerned about taxpayers' money. I pinch every penny."